Lao PDR

UNDP News

15 June 2007

UNDP and Lao Bar Association Take Young Legal Eagles Underwing

High flying lawyers from the Lao Bar Association downed their quills and ink to share their wisdom with young law students at the National University of Laos in Vientiane today. At the lecture, organized by the Lao Bar Association and supported by UNDP's Enhancing Access to Justice project, the law students learned about the life that awaits them when they graduate from law school.

“What is the Law Bar Association?” “What is the role of a lawyer in society?” “What can I do when I finish my degree?” “What is it like working as a lawyer?” These and many other questions were handled by members of the Lao Bar Association – the representative body of lawyers in Lao PDR which provides legal services to the community throughout the country.

Many students don't realize the number of opportunities that are available to them when they finish law school. Joining the Law Bar Association as an intern is an important option as it offers them considerable on-the job training.

Mr. Nouan Thong Vongsa, Head of the Training Sub-Committee at Lao Bar Association is a strong advocate of ongoing legal education as a means to improving the quality of legal services.

“The Lao Bar Association is striving to enhance the quality of lawyers by providing training opportunities to intern lawyers. That is why making students aware of internships with the Association through lectures such as this is so important”.

Ms. Vilayvanh Vongxaya, a lawyer who spoke at the event, is particularly keen to see more women graduates join the Law Bar Association. She told the students it has afforded her many enjoyable and satisfying opportunities throughout her career.

“I like the legal profession and the opportunities it is providing me, especially in area of helping the vulnerable and those in need of free legal services”, she said.

Mr Isfandyar Ali Khan, who is a United Nations Volunteer and is serving as a Project Coordinator of the UNDP Enhancing Access to Justice through Lao Bar Association Project believes that lectures such as today's are an important vehicle for encouraging participation of more young lawyers in an important profession.

“Reaching out directly to the students at this stage in their careers is important. They need to know that they can use their skills to help people from all walks of life and make justice available to every single person in this country irrespective of their financial status or background. And along the way, they will get all the professional support they need to improve their knowledge and skills to help their clients,” Mr Khan said.

The Lao Bar Association intends taking the lecture series to a wider audience, cooperating with law faculties throughout the country. In this way it hopes to recruit even more graduates who can play an important role in enhancing access to justice to marginalized communities in the country.

Eminent members of the Lao Bar Association delivered lectures. They included Executive Members of the Lao Bar Association Messrs Phivath Vorachak and Nouan Thong Vongsa, Ms Xaynari Chanthala, Ms Vilayvanh Vongxaya and Mrs Thippavanh Souphathone. Mr Vixay Sihaphanya, Head of the Law Department also spoke on the occasion.